noun
fantasy
FAN-tuh-see
noun
1
An imagined scenario, especially a pleasant or unrealistic one.
"Winning the lottery and retiring young was just a fantasy of his."
2
A genre of fiction featuring magic, imaginary worlds, and supernatural creatures.
"She loves reading fantasy novels with dragons and wizards."
verb
1
To imagine something, usually something desired.
"He liked to fantasy about life on a tropical island."
How to Use Fantasy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a daydream/imagined scenario, or the genre of fiction built around magic and imaginary worlds.
Common mistake
For the verb meaning "to daydream," "fantasize" is now the standard modern form — "fantasy" as a verb sounds dated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fantasy world
fantasy novel
live out a fantasy
Word Forms
fantasied past tense, fantasies plural, fantasies singular
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Winning the lottery and retiring young was just a _____ of his.
Etymology
From Old French fantasie, ultimately from Ancient Greek phantasia, "imagination" — a doublet of "fancy" and "fantasia."